Lewisia leeana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lewisia leeana |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Lewisia
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| Species: |
leeana
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Lewisia leeana is a type of flowering plant often called the quill-leaf lewisia. It belongs to the Montiaceae family.
Contents
What is Lewisia leeana?
This plant is a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years. It grows from a narrow, woody taproot. A taproot is a main root that grows straight down. This root connects to one or more caudices, which are short, thick stems.
Plant Parts and Appearance
The quill-leaf lewisia has many fleshy leaves. These leaves grow in a circle at the base of the plant, like a rosette. They can be flat or round, with blunt tips. Each leaf can grow up to 4 centimeters (about 1.5 inches) long.
The plant produces many flowers on tall, branching stems. These stems can reach about 24 centimeters (almost 10 inches) tall. Each flower has 5 to 8 petals. The petals are small, about half a centimeter long. They can be white, pink, or purplish.
Where Does It Grow?
This plant is native to parts of California and Oregon in the United States. You can find it growing in the mountains. It lives in the Sierra Nevada and Klamath Ranges.
How It Was Named
The Lewisia leeana plant was named after Lambert Wilmer Lee. He was a person who collected this plant in 1876. He found it in the Siskiyou Mountains, just south of the Oregon border.
Interesting Facts: Hybrids
Sometimes, Lewisia leeana mixes with another plant called Lewisia cotyledon in nature. When two different plants mix their genes, it's called hybridizing. This creates a new plant called Lewisia x whiteae.
